Tail-tab dispensers



June 25, 1968 R. B. SMITH ETAL. 3,389,832

TAIL-TAB DISPENSERS Filed July 10, 1967 IN VENTORS Ram/aw BSM/mmv BY Jam/m G//vGu/c/f.

MNM e United States Patent O "ice 3,389,832 TAlL-TAB DISPENSERS Reynold B. Smith and .lohn W. Gingerich, York, Pa., as-

signors to York Tape 3: Label Corporation, York, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 10, 1967, Ser. No. 652,130 4 Claims. (Cl. 221-70) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A dispenser in which labels, partially axed to a tape, are fed from a roll along a track, the track being formed so that the unafhxed part of the label is cammed upwa-rdly into position to be grasped.

This invention relates to a dispenser for gummed tailtabs of a type commonly used in the textile industry. These tail-tabs generally are mounted on a narrow strip of carrying tape. The tabs have a first gummed portion, which is afiixed to the tape and a second ungummed portion or tail which is free of the tape. In use, a fingernail generally is inserted under the ungummed tail portion, forcing it upwardly and then the gummed portion is stripped from the tape, and the tail-tab is ready to be atiixed to whatever object it is desired to aiiiX it to by way of the gummed portion. ln practice, it has been found ditlicult to remove these tail-tabs from the tape, and applicant has devised an extremely simple dispenser for the tail-tabs and tape with provision of means for forcing the ungummed tail portion of the tail-tab upwardly from the tape so that it may be readily grasped between two fingers.

In carrying out the invention, applicant provides a dispenser comprising a base with means mounted on the base for receiving a roll of tape and atiixed tail-tabs. Also mounted on the base are two elongated plate members, each having an undercut cooperating to form a track for receiving the tape on which the tabs are mounted. One of the plate members has a camming surface terminating in a feathered edge at the point at which the tape is introduced beneath the plate members. The plate members are spaced apart such that when the tape is introduced therebeneath, the ungummed tail portion of the tab overlays the camming surface. As the tape is manually pulled along between the plate members to the terminal ends thereof, the ungummed tail portions of the tabs are cammed upwardly by the camming surface. A full row of tail tabs are then ready for removal from the tape by being grasped by an upturned tail portion. At such time as the entire row is removed, the tape is then advanced manually a distance corresponding to the length of the plate members so that a new row of tail tabs is available for use, and so forth until all the tail tabs have been utilized.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above-stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a vertical view of applicants invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan of the same;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 2, but to a considerably larger scale;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 2, also to a considerably larger scale and with portions thereof shown in disproportionate size to better show details;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of a tape having a plurality 3,389,832 Patented June 25, 1968 of tabs affixed thereto, showing the ungumrned tail portions of the tail-tabs in their upraised cammed position ready for grasping; and

FlG. 6 is a rear view of a plurality of tail-tabs prior to their being attached to a carrying tape and showing the gummed and ungummed portions thereof.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Turning now to the drawings, a base 10 is provided having mounted thereon means for receiving a roll of carrying tape with its affixed tabs. The tape receiving means takes the'form of an upstanding bracket 11 attached to the side of base 10 by way of a pair of bolts 12 and 13. A shaft 14 is attached to the upper portion of bracket 11 by way of a bolt 1S. Shaft 14 receives a pair of circular tape retaining members 16 and 17. Circular member 16 is permanently attached to shaft 14 by any suitable means, while circular member 17 is removably mounted thereon. Shaft 14 is provided at the free end thereof with a threaded member 18 on which circular member 17 is received. A nut like member 19 screws on threaded member 18 to hold circular member 17 in place. A second shaft 20 is also mounted on bracket 11 by way of a suitable bolt (not shown).

A pair of elongated plate members 21 and 22 are suitably fastened to base 10. Plate members 21 and 22 are undercut as shown at 23 and 24 respectively, providing a track 25 for the reception of a carrying tape. It will be appreciated that undercuts 23 and 24 have been shown greatly magnified in FIG. 4. In actual practice, the undercuts 23 and 24 are of sufcient magnitude only to receive a carrying tape therebeneath.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, tail-tabs 26 are comprised of a gummed portion 27 and an ungummed tail grasping portion 28. Gummed portions 27 are afxed to a carrying tape 29 with tail portions 28 lying free there- Plate member 21 has a camming surface 30 formed on the forward edge thereof (as shown in FIG. 3) for camming tail portions 28 of tail-tabs 26 to an upright position such that they may be easily grasped for removal from the carrying tape 29. The space S between plate members 21 and 22 is somewhat wider than the width W of the gummed portion 27 of the tail-tabs 26 but of lesser width than the entire tail-tabs 26. An elongated length of carrying tape 29 and attached tail-tabs 26 is formed into a roll 31 for use.

In utilizing the invention, circular tape retaining memer 17 is removed from shaft 14 and roll 31 is placed on shaft 14. Circular member 17 is then re-attached to shaft 14 by way of nut 19 and roll 31 is thereby retained in position between circular members 16 and 17. The tape 29 is then threaded under shaft 20 and inserted into track 25 under plate members 21 and 22. The tape 29 is oriented such that tail portions 28 of tail-tabs 26 overlay -plate member 21, while the gummed portions 27 are not disposed in undercut 24. As the tape 29 is manually moved along track 25, the tail portions 28 of tail-tabs 26 are cammed upwardly by camming surface 30 until they override plate member 21, as can be seen particularly in FIG. 4. At the terminal ends of plate members 21 and 22, the tape 29 is stopped until such time as the first tail-tab 2.6 is grasped by its upturned tail portion 28 and removed from the tape 29. At such time as the entire row of tail-tabs is removed, the tape 29 is manually advanced a distance corresponding to the length of the plate members 21 and 22. This process continues until such time as all the tail-tabs 26 have been utilized and a new roll 31 inserted on shaft 14. It will be appreciated that tape 29 is discarded after use; its only function being as a vehicle for carrying tail-tabs 26 through the dis` pensing machine.

It will be further appreciated that applicant has developed a device Well suited for its intended purpose of facilitating the removal of gummed tail-tabs from a carrying tape by providing means for forcing upwardly from the tape the tail portion of the tail-tab for easy removal.

It should be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

We claim:

1. A dispenser for tail-tabs, said tabs having a first gummed portion thereof aixed to a carrying tape and a second tail grasping portion thereof being free of said tape; said dispenser comprising a base, means mounted on said base for receiving a tape with a plurality of aixed tail-tabs; a pair of elongated plate members attached to said base, each of said plate members having an undercut portion forming a track to receive said carrying tape therein; a camming surface formed at the forward edge of one of said plate members; said plate members being spaced apart a distance greater than the Width of the first gummed portion of the tab but less than the width of the entire tab.

2. A dispenser for tail-tabs, said tabs having a first gummed portion thereof removably afiixed to a carrying tape and a second tail grasping portion thereof being free of said tape; said dispenser comprising a base, means mounted on said base for receiving a roll of tape and aflixed tail-tabs; a pair of elongated plate members attached to said base, each of said plate members having a portion thereof spaced from said base for accommodating said carrying tape beneath said plate members; a camming surface formed at the forward edge of one of said plate members; said plate members being spaced apart a distance such that when a carrying tape is advanced therebeneath the tail portions of said tabs are cammed upwardly from said carrying tape by said cam- -ming surface.

3. A dispenser for ta'd-tabs, said tabs having a first gummed portion thereof afiixed to a carrying tape and a second tail grasping portion thereof being free of said tape; said dispenser comprising a base; means mounted on said base for receiving a tape with a plurality of affixed tail-tabs; a pair of elongated plate members attached to said base, each 0f said plate members having an undercut portion forming a track to receive said carrying tape therein; a camming surface formed at the forward edge of one of said plate members; said plate members being spaced apart such that when a carrying tape is received in said track the tail portions of said tabs overlie lsaid one plate member and when said tape is advanced said tail portions are cammed upwardly from said carrying tape by said camming surface.

4. A dispenser for tail-tabs, said tabs having a first portion thereof removably affixed to a carrying tape and a second tail grasping portion thereof being free of said tape; said dispenser comprising a base; means mounted on said base for receiving a roll of tape and affixed tailtabs; a pair of elongated plate members having an undercut portion forming a track to receive said carrying tape therein; a camming surface formed at the forward edge of one of said plate members; said plate members being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the attached portion of the tail-tab but less than the width of the entire tail-tab such that when a-carrying tape is advanced in said track the tail portions of said tabs are cammed upwardly from said carrying tape by said camming surface, said tape being so oriented in said dispenser that the tail portions of the tail-tabs overlay said one plate member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,462,816 2/1949 Schner et al 221-25 X 2,491,282 12/1949 Rowe 156-584 2,781,572 2/1957 Anderson 206-56 X 2,885,114 5/1959 Van der Linden 221-71 3,026,239 3/1962 Porter 156-584 3,040,802 6/1962 Frazer 156-584 3,107,814 10/1963 Auger et al. 221-73 3,212,669 10/1965 Kruger 221-70 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

